PLATO:

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT. AFTER THE TRADITION OF
MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST. (Colossians 2:8) What is it
that makes philosophy worldly and why will it spoil you?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Philosophy involves worldly ideas on God and mankind and why we are here. Philosophy is
essentially a package of ideas intended to shape your view of reality. "THE WORLD LOVES THEIR
OWN," so philosophers are exalted in the schools of America and throughout the world, but their
teachings are not only impractical, they compete with the mindset the Lord would have his people
put on to become vessels suitable for his use.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Socrates was made famous by his legal defense in his trial before the court at Athens where he was
accused of heresy and of corrupting the youth. Socrates affinity with the demonic oracle of Delphi and
his offensive behaviour in the city of Athens make both charges believable.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In his defense Socrates makes Meletus,
his accuser, look weak and ineffectual
before the court in a most admirable way as a well prepared lawyer might be expected to do in an
American courtroom where he has the floor and is asking the questions. Socrates says nothing of
any philosophical value while as a lawyer in his own defense, he excels sufficiently for law students
to study him but the philosophy he lived was worthy of the death the court at Athens decreed him to drink.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Almost everyone has heard of Socrates and Plato as though they were undisputably worthy of
honor as Philosophers, however a more careful look into reports concerning them produces a
much different opinion in those who are searching for the truth. Socrates was tried, convicted and died
drinking poisonous hemlock and was presented as though he were enlightened by his student, Plato,
yet Socrates is frequently quoted saying he was not wise; ...
and knew it while others considered themselves wise without a cause outside of their expertise,
and for this reason they were really unwise while Socrates who admitted knowing he was not wise,
was therefore wiser than them.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Is there any greater proof a man is a fool? To what purpose is it to go about in society proving to
other men the wisdom they are known for does not prove them wise? If a politician is elected to
politics because he is politically wise, of what good is it to convince him he is not wise? He may not
be as wise philosophically, socialogically, scientifically, mathematically, or even atheletically as
others; but he must know something of politics and cannot be entirely ignorant of the fact he is not
expert in all things.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Likewise, Socrates went to the poets and proved to his satisfaction they
were not wise although their poetry spoken in public forums theatrically in those days was like
watching movies and television today; and in going to the stars of the day to prove them unwise;
Socrates offended an exalted and popular class
of people knowingly and unnecessarily,...saying he was compelled to do so.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Likewise, Socrates went through society and examined the artisans who made fine works in the materials of
the day, saying wisdom in their art convinced them they were wise in all things;
and this error was common to all, so they were not wise. Socrates proved the artisans unwise to prove
himself wise, and in doing so; he offended them too. In the next few paragraphs we examine quotes out of
the mouth of Socrates showing him to be the most pitiful of intellects:

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"At last I went to the artisans. I WAS CONSCIOUS THAT I KNEW NOTHING AT ALL, as I may say, and
I was sure that they knew many fine things; and here I was not mistaken, for they did know
many things of which I was ignorant, and in this they certainly were wiser than I was. But I
observed that even the good artisans fell into the same error as the poets;...because they were
good workmen they thought that they also knew all sorts of high matters, and this defect in
them overshadowed their wisdom; and therefore I asked myself on behalf of the oracle,
whether I would like to be as I was, neither having their knowledge nor their ignorance, or
like them in both; and I made answer to myself and to the oracle that I was better off as I was.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"The effect of these investigations of mine, gentlemen, has been to arouse against me a great
deal of hostility, hostility of a particularly bitter and persistent kind, which has resulted in various
malicious suggestions, including the description of me as a professor of wisdom. This is due to
the fact that whenever I succeed in disproving another person’s claim to wisdom in a given
subject, the bystanders assume that I know everything about that subject myself. But the
truth is, O men of Athens, is this: that real wisdom is the property of God, and this oracle is
his way of telling us that human wisdom has little or no value. It seems to me that he is not
referring literally to Socrates, but has merely taken my name as an example, as he would
say to us ‘The wisest of you men is he who has realised, like Socrates, that in respect of
wisdom he is really worthless.’

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"This is why I still go about seeking and searching in obedience to the divine command, if I think
that anyone is wise, whether citizen or stranger; and when I think that any person is not wise,
I TRY TO HELP THE CAUSE OF GOD BY PROVING THAT HE IS NOT. This occupation has kept me too busy
to do much either in politics or in my own affairs; in fact, MY SERVICE TO GOD HAS REDUCED ME TO
EXTREME POVERTY.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Socrates was the greatest fool of all having deceived himself into supposing wisdom could be offensive and
provoking, ...and that it was THE WORK OF GOD for him to prove all men unwise while attempting to prove himself wise.
And for this unworthy purpose he put himself and his family through EXTREME POVERTY.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
When a man is truly wise, he is sensitive to the feelings of others; and does not unnecessarily
offend anyone supposedly to educate them. For as you might gather from the vote of the court, the citizens of Athens
did not take lightly the evil manners of Socrates. He was the type of individual people hide from when they see him coming.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Yet Socrates is presented to students in America as someone worthy of study
in our worldly INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Socrates could not convince 501 judges in the court of Athens how he was of any real benefit to
their city going about "corrupting the youth" to become an examiner like himself,... a man who reportedly
neglected the support of his own wife and children; and was living a vain existence babbling about wisdom
he said he did not possess. A man they condemned to
death to rid themselves of his reportedly rude and undesireable influence upon their treasures of youth who needed
a strong message from the elders as to what was good or evil within their city.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In the holy Book we find it only necessary
to establish a matter of importance in the mouth of two or more witnesses. The vote of
approximately 281 against Socrates with 220 for his aquittal stands as astronomical evidence against him, ...that he
was not the mythical giant of philosophy he has become in legend.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Let's take a look at evidence available to us of an unnecessarily exalted
man who became infatuated with the demonic Oracle spoken at Delphi in declaring him the wisest of all,...which oracle
Socrates said could only be the truth since gods by their nature do not lie; ...but those who know of the existence
of demons and their wicked purposes, ...know they lie and deceive blind guides like Socrates so others will follow
them vainly.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Socrates did his best to antagonize the jury of Athenians. We find in Xenophon's Apology the Greek word "megalegoria"
appearing three times in the opening paragraph, translated to mean "eloquence" by writers
seeking to compliment Socrates which is in fashion because "THE WORLD LOVES THEIR OWN." The word
megalegoria is made up of two Greek roots "megal" like in megalomania meaning "big" and "agoreuo"
which means to talk. In other words "big talk." Eloquence would certainly express the positive side
of "big talk," but a "loudmouth" or "boastful" represents the opposite use of the word.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
If you are already convinced anyone with such a great reputation could not have been
a "big talking" boastful individual, then you too may have been taken in like many others
before examing the facts. What is a student supposed to think when they walk into almost
any classroom in America where the names of Socrates and Plato are honored. The inference
is: They must be great for so many people to unquestionably honor them. The fame heaped on
Socrates and Plato certainly should be suspect by anyone hoping to have discernment in this
evil world. Our attitude should be: Convince me first of their greatness, then I will honor them.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Those who wrote about the trail of Socrates were awestruck by his "megalegoria" before the
jury and thought it was "aphronestera" which is in the
Liddell-Scott Greek Lexicon. How could his "eloquence" have been "senseless, witless, crazed, or foolish?"
Instead the facts tell us Socrates was a "big mouth" before the jury speaking in a "senseless, witless, crazed, or foolish"
manner.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Eloquence is generally associated with wisdom, persuasion and virtue. "Senseless eloquence" would not justify
the fame modern teachers are giving him. If there is such a thing as a great philosopher, Socrates would
have spoken wisely and eloquently.
As it was, his "big talking" "megalegoria" was "aphronestera" or "senseless, witless, crazed, or foolish."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Xenophon writes that he had asked the veteran Socrates for advice on whether to go with Cyrus, and that
Socrates referred him to the divinely inspired Delphic oracle. Xenophon's query to the oracle, however,
was not whether or not to accept Cyrus' invitation, but "to which of the gods he must pray and do sacrifice,
so that he might best accomplish his intended journey and return in safety, with good fortune." The oracle
answered his question and told him to which gods to pray and sacrifice. When Xenophon returned to Athens and
told Socrates of the oracle's advice, Socrates chastised him.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We have the real picture.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, when it
was a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Python, a deity who lived there and
protected the navel of the Earth. His sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every
four years athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the four
panhellenic (or stephanitic) games, precursors to the Modern Olympics.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the site of the omphalos stone, the centre of the
earth and the universe. In the inner hestia ("hearth") of the Temple of Apollo, an eternal flame burned.
After the battle of Plataea, the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth
of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were
first dedicated at Delphi.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The author, Xenophon, was trying to justify Socrates from
admiration of him. It was also name dropping, something the worldly do to promote themselves. My guide was
Socrates, therefore you ought to read my book.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Writers then are like writers now.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We are tipped off in holy Scripture when we read: "BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY..."
Philosophy is warned against in that verse of holy Scripture. We who "ARE IN THIS WORLD BUT NOT OF IT" ought to
look all the more carefully into things where "THE WORLD LOVES THEIR OWN."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Xenophon's account was based on the testimony of Hermogenes who hung out with Socrates and who
tried to get him to prepare an eloquent defense because "the Athenian courts have been
carried away by an eloquent speech and have condemned innocent men to death, and often
on the other hand the guilty have been acquitted either because their plea aroused compassion
or because their speech was witty." Socrates said he tried to write such a speech but his
"daimonion" or guiding spirit intervened to stop him. This is not the first time you will run
across mention of a spirit influencing Socrates which brings up the question as to whether or
not he was demon possessed or demon oppressed. If you have had any experience with demon spirits,
you already know they are rude in getting their way in a matter. They can be "A THORN IN THE FLESH."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The fruit of Socrates life certainly suggests such a spirit as his guiding influence.
The man was well known in Athens for wandering about the city talking on subjects as one
who supposedly knows the answers but did not know where his next meal was coming from;
which is of little or no importance until you realize his wife and three sons were at
home without financial support from all indications.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
If Socrates is the secular Saint of Philosophy as he has been painted down through the
centuries, how then did such a fellow justify offending the senses of the jury in a trial
where nothing was done worthy of death? Socrates provoked them into condeming him to a
death that would leave his wife and children destitute of financial support? His supporters
even offered to rescue him from jail but he would not hear of it.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
It is certainly admirable for Jesus Christ to die as the Lamb of God sacrificially
on the cross at Calvary for his people, the Lord left no wife or children destitute.
But Socrates essentially committed suicide from beginning to end for no other purpose
than a convenient death, and to obey the guidance of his demons who are still here on
the earth promoting his name to greatness.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In both Xenophon's and Plato's Apologies where they defended Socrates, there is the
word "thorubos" which means a "noise of a crowd." It can mean their noisy approval or
noisy disapproval. Twice in the trial Socrates causes a "thorubos" when he claims that
he unlike ordinary men possessed a familiar spirit, a "daimonion" and a second time when
he says the oracle at Delphi declared there was no one wiser than him. (If you know
anything about those who gave oracles at Delphi, they were demon possessed diviners.)
Xenophon says the jurors "raised a clamor," in "jealousy at his receiving greater favours
even from the gods than they."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
And in regard to his boastfulness,
it is written: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD." So God resisted Socrates through the jurors.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
If you look closely in holy Scripture, you'll see what Saint Paul did to drive the
demon from the female diviner who followed hard on his heels as he ministered. Her
spirit of divination was apparently quite a money maker. (Acts 16:16/23) It appears
Socrates had such a spirit in Athens and was in essence an obedient disciple of the Devil.
Here is what he said to Hermogenes who passed it on to Xenophon the defender of Socrates in his history.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"If I am condemned now, it will clearly be my privilege to suffer a death that is adjudged
by those who have superintended this matter to be not only the easiest but also the least
irksome to one's friends." "It was with good reason" Socrates goes on to say, "that the gods
opposed my studying up my speech at the time when we held that by fair means or foul we must
find some plea that would effect my acquittal." Here we see by his testimony, that not just one
demon was involved, but more than one.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Xenophon writes:
"And as for Socrates, by exalting himself before the court, he brought ill-will upon
himself and made his conviction by the jury all the more certain." Does that sound like
one of the Saints of the Bible you admire? You'll remember Jesus and Saint Paul were on trial.
Neither praised himself. The spirit in Socrates was not of God. He can speak of representing
holiness like Joseph Smith the false Mormon prophet, who died in a gun battle killing
his enemies; but the boasting of Socrates is one of the surest proofs he did not live a holy life.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
All this is vainity over a vain man who ought not to have been placed in the text books of
this great nation, but since he and his buddy Plato have been honored; it is necessary to
pull the rug out from under their feet. Philosophers can be airy. A little bit
more entertaining than the aged crowd sipping coffee somewhere while talking about anything
and everything and doing nothing more to make society better.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The demons perceived Socrates could be made into a legend, since he had no real substance.
People could be brought to believe anything they were told about him. But if you are of a mind
there were no demons involved, or that Socrates was not demon possessed;
here is the testimony of Socrates at the end of the trial when
he was thanking those who voted for his aquittal, saying:

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"Friends, who voted for my acquittal, I should very much like to say a few words
to reconcile you to the result, while the magistrates are busy, and before I go
to the place at which I must die. Stay then a little, for we may as well talk with
one another while there is time. You are my friends, and I should like to show you
the meaning of this event which has happened to me. O my judges--for you I may
truly call judges--I should like to tell you of a wonderful circumstance. Hitherto
the divine faculty of which THE INTERNAL ORACLE is the source has constantly been
in the habit of opposing me even about trifles, if I was going to make a slip or error
in any matter; and now as you see there has come upon me that which may be
thought, and is generally believed to be, the last and worst evil. But THE ORACLE
made no sign of opposition, either when I was leaving my house in the morning,
or when I was on my way to the court, or while I was speaking, at anything which
I was going to say; and yet I have often been stopped in the middle of a speech,
but now in nothing I either said or did touching the matter in hand has THE ORACLE
opposed me. What do I take to be the explanation of this silence? I will tell you.
It is an intimation that what has happened to me is a good, and that those of us
who think that death is an evil are in error. For the customary sign would surely
have opposed me had I been going to evil and not to good."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
By his own testimony, Socrates was DEMON POSSESSED BY "THE INTERNAL ORACLE."
A spirit speaking with a voice within him. And it is by demonic guidance the legend was
established, for had it been by the guidance of his friends; Socrates would have plea
bargained the saving of his life and would not have become famous for drinking the poison
of what has been made to appear an unjust decree.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The thing that entices writers to continue to write about Socrates
is their fascination with a man who willingly drank poison to end his own life at the end of
a trail.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
If Socrates is such a great man, where is the body of his teachings? In what
book do we find them? If Socrates is such a great man, why is it he was brought to trail as
a corruptor of the youth of Athens? What great deeds did he perform in the wisdom he supposedly
possessed? When more than two hundred citizens of Athens voted for his death, how is it we
would set aside their verdict as though they did not know what they were doing?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We have Plato's Republic where he honored a demon possessed babbler who stirred up
an entire city against himself. But there were not many books written in those centuries,
so there are not many to choose from, are there? Plato's main purpose seems to have
been the promotion of Socrates, and in promoting him; he succeeded in promoting himself.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In a little known Millenium Age prophecy we are told the Lord will "DESTROY IN
THIS MOUNTAIN THE FACE OF THE COVERING CAST OVER ALL PEOPLE AND THE VEIL
THAT IS SPREAD OVER ALL NATIONS." (Isaiah 25:7) There is a veil of spiritual darkness
spread over all nations at this time and it will be destroyed by the Lord of glory at the
beginning of his thousand year reign. What does that have to do with Philosophy?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
So there is a veil over the minds of "ALL NATIONS" blinding entire populations from the Light
the Apostles and Prophets enjoyed even though they saw "THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY." But what
great veil than the presumptuous notion the Greek philosophers were advanced in enlightenment???
There is but little of their writings and their lives, and they are not here where we can more closely
examine them; so the presumption continues on into the classrooms of the world undetected.

GREEK PHILOSOPHERS:

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Those who are looking to themselves to be the light of the world are running the race on
the wrong track. Christ is the Light of the world. The A and the Z, the beginning and the
end. It is the Lord who will destroy the veil of spiritual darkness cast over all nations
when he sets up his throne on Mount Zion.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
What does the veil of spiritual darkness consist of? It first consists of an almost total lack
of knowledge and understanding of why God Almighty created mankind,...while men illogically presume
their lives belong to them. Yet any Inventor will fight you to the death if need be to retain ownership
over his creations and his designs.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Just as soon as any individual goes down the path of self will, every evil in the flesh of mankind
is unleashed. Egotistical pride, deceitfulness, lies, embezzlements, robberies, hostilities, murders, wars,
lusts, covetousness, fornications, adulteries, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. All these evils resident in
mankind are driven by THE LOVE OF MONEY WHICH IS THE HIDDEN ROOT OF ALL EVIL. By money the
individual hopes to obtain whatever is selfishly desired.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The Masters Jesus, and John the Baptist came penniless in absolute poverty to show the
world what it means to live a totally unselfish life laboring to serve others. Imagine what
a wonderful world it could be were everyone living solely for the love of their neighbor and
of the living God. Yet this conclusion has escaped all of the philosophers.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
To cure mankind, the Lord will totally reshape the civilizations of the world
when he returns with multitudes of resurrected believers to rule the earth
as a benevelent Monarch.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Meanwhile, while billions of souls exist behind the veil cast over all the nations,
Jesus Christ is "THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE," ...not
any of the philosophers or their philosophies. If any philosophy does not point to
the Creator of all reality, who is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah; those philosophies
fall short of the perfection of truth.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The problem with them whether they be believers or non believers, is the
smallness of man in contrast to the infinity of the universe. It simply is impossible
for finite man to understand God who possesses infinite understanding. (Psalm 147:5)
Man might be a little closer were he perfect, but since man is imperfect; he cannot
even know how much remains to be done to make him perfect. So we have the
imperfect and finite trying to explain the perfect and the infinite. Hence every
philosopher and philosophy in the history of mankind has failed to provide their
adherents with the perfect truth.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
God has always been. How can man who is born of woman comprehend God who
cannot die, God who "NEVER SLUMBERS OR SLEEPS," God who cannot forget
anything he wants to, God who sees all of the creatures he created in motion upon
the earth moment by moment and cannot be distracted by anything or anyone.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The philosophy of worldly minded philosophers becomes ridiculous when you realize we were made from nothing and are returning to nothing. God is the A and the Z. King David wrote: "HE PERFORMS THE THING APPOINTED FOR ME." Our lives are predestined by God who is with us from our beginning to our end, yet we do not see him. "NO MAN HAS SEEN GOD." And since we do not know our predestination, we are left to make the choices that will decide our destiny. Let them explain that paradox.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Philosophies are in danger of becoming another gospel when they are not the truth, but a competitor to the truth. If there is a half truth in a philosophy, the whole of any philosophical presentation is not the truth. That makes it a bad trade when we have the grace of God to be able to purchase and read the Bible and the hope of obtaining a sufficient supply of the Spirit to live it increasingly. In the King James 1611 Version is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Saint James made it clear to believers: 'FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AND YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUIL TY OF ALL." (St. James 2:10)

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
When a philosopher attempts to prove God exists. We don't need his help. We already know God exists. When they tell us all material reality is an illusion, its not an illusion to us. When they say we are only made of matter, we know we are body, mind, soul and spirit. When they say all our learning comes through the senses, we know the inspiration of God comes directly to us and is able to penetrate our flesh just as the Lord is able to walk through walls without being seen. When they say God can't be perceived with the senses, we say, "Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand." We feel God's divine Presence in worship particularly when we lift up holy hands. When they say God is not involved in human affairs, we say he certainly is involved in everything we do whether we perceive it or not.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Descartes made an attempt at proving his existence by saying, "I think, therefore I am."
He used "ENTICING WORDS OF MEN'S WISDOM" and many followed hard after his views.
It may surprise you to discover just how far off of the mark a man can be until you realize
Descartes took an opposite position from that of Saint Paul who said, "I THINK NOT, THEREFORE
I AM."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
If you thought Descartes was deep, then you will have to think Saint Paul even deeper still.
It stretches the human mind to comprehend what the Apostle meant when he said he thought not
and therefore was. But the great Saint was talking about the great mystery of godliness in
walking in the Spirit of Christ "QUICKENED IN HIS MORTAL BODY BY THE SPIRIT THAT
DWELLS WITHIN".

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In not thinking where he was going, the Apostle's focus is on going where the Spirit of the
Lord quickens him to go. So a Saint "WALKS BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In order to manifest Christ in us, we must become what we were not; for Christ
to live and move and have his being in us; and for us to enjoy the gloriousness
and ecstacies of his divine Presence inwardly we "DIE TO SELF DAILY".

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Stay far away from worldly philosophies
or they will spoil you into believing you can become wise and enlightened by their
feeble notions of knowledge.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
John Locke is known for teaching in his philosophy that the experience of sense perception is
the necessary means of the acquisition of knowledge. There is no doubt we
can learn from our senses, but its foolish for the believer in Christ to leave
God out of the equation who is able to speak past our senses to our
consciousness; so that irregardless of whether we perceive what He is showing
us through our senses or directly to our innermost consciousness, HE "GIVES
WISDOM TO THE WISE."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
God Almighty is "THE BEGINNING AND END OF ALL THINGS" for all men whether they be consciously
aware of God working in their lives or not.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Finite man simply cannot comprehend Life that is hid with Christ in God. It is written:
"EYE HAS NOT SEEN NOR EAR HEARD NEITHER HAS IT ENTERED
INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE
WHO LOVE HIM." Life hidden in God is so far beyond us we
cannot learn it through our eyes or our ears nor can we imagine it in our heart.
We must prove to God we love him, and when he sees our love is true; He will
reward consciousness accordingly.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Be careful of what Philosophers say, though their sayings sound astute to the ear,
much of what they have to say; ought not to be have been said at all.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Your theology is your philosophy if you are a true believer in
Christ, and if your theology is wrong; your philosophy is wrong.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Philosophy is not forbidden but we are advised not to be spoiled by
it. There is not much in holy Scripture regarding the soul, but it
seems to be the consciousness of the spirit. This is not to be confused
with the human housing of the mind where the soul sees and hears
through eyes and ears of flesh.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We are spirits embodied in flesh in our Mother's womb by God who
shapes us there. Neither we nor our parents have anything to say
about our gender nor our shape, though many come out of the womb
with striking similarities to their parents.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The newborn human child knows nothing nor is able to communicate
anything at all except its discomfort by wailing and its pleasure by
cooing, but words are alien to them. Every child is possessed an
innate ability to understand referred to as
"THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD,"
and though little is known of this ability to understand; it is the light of
faith provided every man to recognize God working invisibly in all creation
and the consciousness necessary for learning.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We are told by the Lord adult human nature is evil.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"IF YOU BEING EVIL, DO GOOD THINGS FOR YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL THE
FATHER IN HEAVEN DO GOOD FOR YOU. It is clear from childhood how
children are self centered in much of what they do, though at times their
virtues particularly of humility and of the joy of being alive are a pleasure to behold
by adults.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Children learn from those to whom they are exposed the most.
Thus the sins of the parents pass on to the second and third
generation to children exposed to them. These are not genetic disorders, but are evils the parents
practice. The children learn them because they are impressionable. They
come into the world knowing nothing and become strongly attached to
their parents because they are dependent upon them for necessities and guidance
and lack the discernment to know just how evil they might be in comparision to
other parents.
Their attachment to their adult guides motivates them to emulate them in
some ways, in other ways for the more virtuous of children; those evils
are shaken off. For they see and hear them through their senses as evils
and find them repugnant. The child who grows to wickedness does so
by emulating evils they learn from adult influences.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In all this development into adulthood, it is safe to say God is working
through MINISTERING SPIRITS which labor day and night without
slumbering or sleeping on the earth, to guide us to our predetermined
destinies. Our INSTRUCTIONS ARE SEALED IN THE NIGHT. We have
visitations in dreams and visions when asleep and do not know the
effect of these things, therefore we think we in charge of our decision
making processes, especially when we consider how hard we labor to
discipline ourselves to live right or to overcome adversities.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
And always we struggle for peace and for happiness. Each according to his own ways. When we received Christ, most of us were joyous to find out God was interested in us personally, and with our sinful slates washed clean by the Lord we set out from that day forth with our names written down in the Lamb's book of Life. The sinner who goes on without such a revelation of salvation by Christ still thinks God is not interested and their philosophy or their beliefs reflect those feelings and thoughts.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Human depravity is so bad that we get worse as we grow older if we are not struggling against our evil desires to conquer them. So it is that sinners degenerate sometimes down into the utter depravity of wickedness and immorality so much they become reprobate, a condition where God loses interest in them altogether as a general contractor would lose interest in repairing a house eaten up by termites down into the foundation itself.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The body and spirit are reciprocal. They work upon one another. When you are miserable and sick, your spirit and soul are downcast and sometimes defeated. But when good health returns to your body, your spirit and soul are feeling better than ever. The sunlight beams brighter. The air breathes fresher. Food becomes a delight again. And so on.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
When all is not well with your body, your thinking, your temperment, and even your will are influenced negatively. Likewise, in someone healthy bodily, if their mental health is not right; that will influence their bodily condition negatively. Poor mental health can dry up the bones. Mental stress can cause heart attacks and disable the body altogether.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The soul of the human mind is the residence of our understanding, our affections, and our emotions. The will along with our affections and emotions work from our heart. This is why we say of a a player who gives all he's got, that "he's all heart." He may not be very smart, but he is doing that which he does with all of his might. And when he fails, he groans and even cries. His whole heart is in the thing.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We have no trouble locating these faculties. We find them in the Word where we are told to: LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOUL, ALL YOUR MIND AND ALL YOUR STRENGTH. That's all of you.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
But we are like fish in the sea immersed in the great ocean of the omnipresent God whose influences upon us are made more and more clear as we draw closer and closer to him in our lives.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"GOD WORKS IN US TO WILL AND TO DO," so it is up to us to become more spiritual in learning to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING as we are advised in holy Scripture. By prayer we seek God to turn our human vehicle and the circumstances with which we are dealing, in such a way as to prosper our journey in this life.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
When we die, we come out of the body in which we lived and are soul and spirit. That is, a conscious spirit. We will be able to see, hear, feel, talk and walk. For all we know, we may even be able to fly like the angels who are soul and spirit. But holy Scripture is not clear on this matter.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"THE FLESH IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT" all the days of our lives. There is no exception to it. There is a war going on inside believers for dominion and some believers are overcomers. Others are not. The worst of the lot fall away and a line is drawn through their name in the Lamb's book of Life in heaven, no matter what they say to comfort themselves.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In closing, it is important for us to deny ourselves daily and overcome our adversities by conforming as much as is possible for us to the morally virtuous example of Christ and the holy men and women of God whose lives are described in the Bible. If you are exposed to philosophy, let your theology be your philosopher lest you be spoiled by the worldly views of others.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT. AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST. (Colossians 2:8) If you are going to be spoiled, be spoiled by Christ who will send his most faithful into the fiery furnance or call out to have a disciple walk on the raging waters of a storm at sea to reach him or you might be sent to Rome to be martyred for his glory. Make up your mind today who you will serve. The race is to become like Christ, to become empowered by Christ, to leave behind the old sinful baggage of human depravity for the spiritually new man in him. May God help you make the right decision. Amen.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The point of view every predestined life form lives is that of a spectator whether they perceive it or not, for the darkness of the innermost self is blinding to humanity by nature though there is a candle of the Lord within deposited as "THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS EVERY MAN WHO COMES INTO THE WORLD." Few attain to the enlightenment of a King David who said after hand to hand combat, "THE LORD TURNED THE EDGE OF MY SWORD IN BATTLE."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
David also wrote God "PERFORMS THE THING APPOINTED FOR ME." In the illusion produced by spiritual darkness, sinners think they are in control of their lives although it is apparent to others they are not. They choose the darkness of sin and pursue their particular collection of sins continually in pursuit of happiness.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The wicked are blind to God's judgments in their evil lives. God's "JUDGMENTS ARE FAR ABOVE OUT OF THE SIGHT OF THE WICKED..." They are troubled at every turn and "THERE IS NO REST FOR THE WICKED."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The Christian becomes a member of the family of God and brings the delusions of his sinful existence with him even though a truckload of sins have been washed away in true repentance; he yet remains a sin factory with some immediate improvement normally; but he has a long way to go to unlearn his former self. Among the strongest of his delusions is his belief that he has a free will.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
When a Christian reads "GOD WORKS IN US TO WILL AND TO DO," the meaning of it normally escapes them. They are not yet ready to believe God could be so powerful as to "QUICKEN ALL THINGS." So the truths that escape wicked and lost sinners also remain hidden from undeveloped Christians until they come out of their darkness into the greater Light of the Lord. The beliefs of Christians encompasses too small an idea of God, and so their Theistic philosophy will be inadequate too.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
They would not know how to lives outside of themselves as a spectator of what God is doing in their lives, for they do not see God working continaully in their lives yet. Jesus is a prime example of this prospective. He made no mention of pain on the cross. His only complaint was "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" Throughout the ordeal there was no indication of pain at all on his part, neither in the pounding of nails into his hands and feet; nor in his hanging on the cross. He carried on business as though nothing had happened to him. Jesus Christ was outside of himself while remaining inside his human flesh.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Most Christians will not graduate to that level of multi-dimensional perception of their own lives until after the Resurrection when there shall be a great awakening throughout the earth. "YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; AS GOD HAS SAID, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The reality of becoming a spectator of your life while living it becomes more apparent as the Spirit of God is internalized more and more while you grow from glory to Glory to GLORY to G L O R Y into manisfestations of the G L O R I O U S N E S S that is Christ. It is a multi dimensional reality. A Saint caught up in the gloriousness of the Lord sees Christ moving in themselves and moves in him.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Go up into the majestic mountains nearest your habitation and look out upon the wondrus creation God provided, and consider who stood in the same place 100, 200 and even 500 years ago. Do you not see what insignificant specks we humans are on the horizon as time moves endlessly on in eternity?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
five hundred years ago, no white man that we know of stood on the majestic mountains of America. But Indians were here looking at the wonders of creation in same awe with no less intelligence than we were given coming into this world. Now, where are they? If we wanted to give the continent back to them, we could not do it.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Yet they too saw everything they experienced in their lives as important, and their dominion over regions as exceedingly important to them. So they often went to war among themselves and were a divided house when immigrants flooded in from overseas. And "A DIVIDED HOUSE WILL FALL."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The cultures of the Indians was different than the cultures of immigrants marching into their territories, but all saw themselves as important and presumed God must think they were important too. Yet man is like a blade of grass, here one day and gone the next.
God cares for us, but THE NATIONS ARE AS NOTHING TO HIM.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
God is personally involved in all our lives as a husbandman tends to his vineyards. Vines that bear no fruit are tossed into the fire while vines that bear fruit are pruned so they can bear more fruit.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
God is the Potter. We are the clay. In his house are vessels of gold and silver and vessels of earth and wood. The vessels have nothing to say in what material they are made of or how they are shaped. We are called vessels because we are designed to contain the Spirit of God. Almost all human vessels have eyes and ears, but few see and hear spiritually. When a vessel happens to have eyes to see and ears to hear spiritually, they are enabled to become spectators in their formation as vessels suitable for the Master's use.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We are more valuable than the sparrows that do not fall to the ground without God seeing it, but we are not indispensible. The earth will continue in orbit long after our human machinery turns to dust in the grave.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
When the new creature in Christ is built, it is Christ in you the hope of glory living and moving and having his being inside THE BODY OF CHRIST you are.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
That is why it is called THE BODY OF CHRIST. "YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN, YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE." The body you live in was designed by God to live in too.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS" is obviously not easy to understand. The Spirit may not stay long. Remember, the Spirit of the Lord empowering Samson fully, was absent for perhaps four years while his hair grew back to a length agreeable to his vows.
Samson prayed, and was empowered, and was able to find the pillars of the Philistine temple and use the the mighty strength of the Lord to bring it down.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Samson was outside of himself during those crucial moments when he could say: "I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME." God is the Rock of our salvation. His ways do not change.
He is "THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Who lived in Sampson at the moment the pillars of the temple were pushed down, but Christ!!! It was Christ who pushed the pillars down with Sampson. Did you say you knew him? Now you know him better. It was Christ in Samson killing wicked hateful 'BRUTE BEASTS MADE TO BE DESTROYED."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Now you also can know Sampson better. He was a vessel suitable for the Master's use. He had (oddly enough for those readers who only knew of a gentle Jesus) the mind of Christ in the crucial moment the temple was knocked down. Sampson was physically blind, but he saw Christ moving spiritually in him just like in times of old when he single handedly defeated the Philistines. He was both inside himself and a spectator of what Christ was doing in him. It was not a common experience to knock down a temple with thousands of enemies falling to their deaths screaming. The power exerted in doing in was not common to man. It was superhuman. The Lord's anointed get to see the Lord work powerfully at times.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The Lord's anointed are not always filled with the Spirit, but are visited both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. And this is only possible for those chosen individuals who are filled with the Word of God and the understanding of it. So it is that man simply exists in a predestined state ignorant of God working in every circumstance while "QUICKENING ALL THINGS" as the Prime Mover in the universe. But Saints are enabled to perceive God working "ALL IN ALL." The log has fallen out of their eyes. They have eyes to see.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
On the philosophical debate as to whether VIRTUE is based on knowledge and is therefore teachable, or is just resident in the individual and cannot be learned; it is both learned and resident in the virtuous individual to the extent God makes it possible for them to be virtuous. Some are more virtuous than others, and some have no virtue at all; and are reprobate.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Virtue is the sum of the Spirit and Light present with an individual to empower them to virtuousness. Their knowledge of what virtue is, and their patience in thinking through every situation to its most virtuous conclusion, all figure into the greater virtue.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
God have provided mankind both a book of knowledge regrding virtue which we call THE BIBLE, and God provides "THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD" and he provides "THE INCORRUPTIBLE SEED OF THE SPIRIT" in the baptism of the holy Ghost for the further advancement of believers to nourish with sacrifice and obedience to build more virtue in themselves in growing up into the perfect collection of virtue in Christ.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We find a blueprint of some of this collection of virtues in Galatians 5:22: "THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS".....nine characteristics of the Spirit of God. Fearlessness and courage and boldness and the ability to function ably while in pain and other such virtue are probably increased toward perfection as those nine charactoristics are increased toward perfection. What is important to see in the phrasing of the Scripture is the singular use of the Greek word "karpos." telling us all virtue is embodied into one FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT rather than fruits. If one lacks, they all lack. If a man is weak in the faith, he is also capable of fear and is not as bold as he would hope to be nor would he be able to endure the pain of martyrdom as easily as Christ did in perfect virtue. If a man is hateful, he cannot manifest perfected love in his deeds, nor perfect patience, nor perefect goodness, nor perfect peace, and so on. "THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT" interlock into the virtue an individual possesses.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The next time you are faced with a righteousness v/s unrighteousness situation, consider whether your meditating on what to do allowed for you to draw on knowledge stored up in you that you might not sin against God. Your desire to think about it proves the goodness of God's COLLECTIVE VIRTUE is resident in you to some degree and your coming to a better decision after thinking about it, proves you have some knowledge stored to not sin against God.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Virtue is not teachable by itself. "MAN CAN DO NOTHING BY HIMSELF." The knowledge of virtue works with the spiritual condition of the individual to produce virtuous deeds.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The wicked know about virtue and normally will not do anything virtuous. The righteous know about wickedness and refrain from
evildoing as much as is possible for them.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The ungodly Christian and the sinner who constitute the middle majority of the population are caught between righteousness and unrighteousness in both knowledge and in the strength of the Spirit their will possesses to choose good over evil. "THE FLESH IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT" and they have great difficulty overcoming temptations of all kinds in those two states of being, particularly in regard to chronically bad habits and addictions.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Socrates was right when he said he was not a teacher. He also was unable to do righteousness for lack of knowledge and a lack of the Spirit of God though salvation had come to the Gentiles several centuries earlier. "THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD" is not that Light of enlightenment prophets and apostles possess and lessor holy men possess.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Were Socrates truly a Saint, he not only would be able to teach the virtue of God as a collective
embodiment of soul and spirit and he would have been numbered among those who are "BLESSED ...PEACEMAKERS."
instead of troubling the fragile city-state of Athens while pushing them to commit what seemed like an
innocent man to death.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
God works through mankind without their perceiving it; and when an individual becomes one with God; God lives their Life through them as they
partake of his divine nature and live their Life through Him. He who is infinite lives a life he could otherwise not
live and mankind lives a life they could not otherwise
live, for God is Life.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
God has no need of sleep, but man needs sleep. God has no weakness, but man has weaknesses. God
has no afflictions, but man has afflictions. God has no equal, but man is inferior to Him.
God is not hungry, but man hungers daily. God does not have sex, but man has sex. God has no-one
who can defeat him in war, but man can be defeated in war.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In creating fallible man, infallible God is able to experience fallibility. God who is Almighty, experiences
the helplessness of man. God who cannot fear experiences fear. God who cannot die experiences death.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD" is a deposit of the Spirit of God in every man.
Yet man is not God. The flesh machinery of man is evil. The Designer of all creation has made it so the
deposit of Spirit in man is balanced by the evil nature of the flesh in which the spirit is housed. So it
is written: "THE FLESH IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT AND THE SPIRIT IS CONTRARY TO THE FLESH."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
When man looks inside himself, he can sense a spirit residing inside his flesh; and his consciousness of it which has developed from childhood is the soul of awareness of those things. But where did the spirit come from if man was born from nothing more than a fertilized seed in woman?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Just as God breathed the Spirit of Life into Adam and Eve, he is able to breath a portion of his Spirit into mankind when we are shaped in the womb of our Mothers. This is "THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
By that means, God supplied you with a blank portion of spirit upon which has been built the daily experiences
imprinting your present consciousness upon the spiritual soul within your human mind. You are both spirit
and flesh. That portion of the Spirit of God resides in your subconscious where you cannot perceive its
presence and it burns as the candle of the Lord in all men who have not put their inner candle light out.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Seek the Lord with the light in you and He will provide you with
Revelations.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
The spirit is immortal, but consciousness
is mutable.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Even as the great oceans are limited by sea shores, so is the knowledge of man.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
There is a spirit inside you, but scientists can't find it.
We know a child comes into this world empty of all knowledge. A blank spirit. The cute
little bundle of spirit inside a baby's body doesn't even know their name yet. A few days
earlier it was a fetus floating about in the water of its Mother's womb. When its eyes open
wide for the first time to see the light of this world, it does not know how to crawl or sit
much less talk or think. It does have a conscious perception there is something out there in
the strangely new world it has arrived in but it can't identify anything yet.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Yet those who become introspective can
perceive the human spirit and when the Spirit of God visits, they can perceive him within.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
We know the child develops a personality and its own depository of knowledge based on their own personal experiences.
The consciousness of the soul resides in the machinery of the human mind and is able to receive and communicate as
long as the machinery of the flesh is working. If the spirit is from God, then it surely must be on loan from God and
is like the flesh vehicle carrying us about our business in this world. The soul of our consciousness is more
identifyable as us since it is most representative of us, and we developed into it.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"AS WE THINK IN OUR HEART, SO WE ARE."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Those who win people to the Lord are called soul winners. We win the consciousness of the soul
embodied in the human machinery of the individual. Yet even that we do not do of
ourselves. For "NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT HE DRAWS HIM." It is the operation of
the Spirit of God to draw lost souls to him. The invisible helped by the visible.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
"THAT WHICH IS UNSEEN IS GREATER THAN THAT WHICH IS SEEN."

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
So the unseen spirit God has deposited in man ought to be considered greater than
the flesh machinery in which it is deposited. Yet we know little about it beyond
what has already been said. As you advance further into a God consciousness, you
will do so by conquering THE FLESH WHICH IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT while storing up
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. It is not just a path of intellectual knowledge, but of experience
sacrificially in a life of devout self denial and obedience to the Spirit of the written Word of God.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
In your pilgrimage deeper into a God consciousness in all humility toward him who made you,
you must decrease and he must decrease. You'll remember, John the Baptist spoke those words
of wisdom. May God help you find the path and stay on it true to the end. Amen.